Claws for a Cause (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 15) (8 page)

“Yes, don’t women play beach volleyball in Hawaii wearing bikinis?”

Savannah slapped playfully at her husband. “Women, huh? I almost bought your story.”

“Is he telling you stories?” Gladys asked, joining the couple in their room.

“Morning, Gladys,” Michael said. “Are you ready for an adventure?”

When Gladys saw Lily raise her arms toward her, she picked her up, hugged her, and said, “Sure am.” She looked at the baby’s outfit. “Aren’t you adorable?” Tugging at one side of her dress, she added, “But it looks a little small. Vannie, don’t you think so?”

Savannah nodded. “Yes, she’s outgrown all her summer clothes, except for a few she got from you at Christmas. We need to go shopping for her today. Are you game, Mom?”

“Sure. I love baby-girl shopping.”

“Is breakfast ready?” Michael asked. “Can we go now?”

“Yes,” Savannah said. “Does anyone know where the Orchid Room is?”

“No, but we can ask someone,” Michael assured her. “Let’s take the stroller; we’ll need it for our walk. Hon, do you have the sunscreen, Lily’s sun hat, her drinks?”

Savannah nodded. “Sure do. Let’s go, shall we?” Once they’d arrived at the Orchid Room, she said, “This room is so pretty…looks like it’s a buffet today.” Glancing at the others, she asked, “Want to sit outside? There’s a beach view.”

“Hey look, there’s a volleyball game,” Michael said. “Yeah, let’s sit outside where we can watch the game.” He asked Savannah, “Can I look through the long lens on your camera? I mean…can I take a few pictures with your camera?”

“Oh Michael, simmer down. If you get this excited every time you see women in bikinis, you’re apt to have a heart attack before we leave the island.”

“You’re no fun,” he said, feigning a pout.

When he pulled her to him and kissed her neck, she laughed. “Michael, why are you so frisky? Come on now, let’s find a table, then we’ll take turns going to the buffet. Hey, there’s Shelly and Rebecca.” She waved. “Want to join us?”

The two women nodded and followed the Ivey party to a table for six on the deck. Once everyone had fixed themselves a plate and sat down to eat, Savannah noticed something. “What kind of flower is that?”

“Isn’t it an orchid?” Gladys suggested. “Or is it ginger?”

“I don’t know. It’s beautiful. Hand me my camera, Michael; I want to shoot it.” Camera in hand, Savannah walked along a large planter looking for just the right blossom, and then began focusing for a close-up of the delicate white flower. She had snapped a few pictures when suddenly she realized she wasn’t alone.

“Hey, you don’t have permission to take my picture!”

Stunned, Savannah rose and saw a man intently staring back at her from the other side of the planter box.
Oh, this guy must be teasing me,
she thought to herself.
But when she looked into his face, she saw seriously intense anger.
He’s not kidding. He looks downright scary.
“Oh…um,” she stuttered, “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there. I wasn’t…” When he continued to stare into her eyes, she stepped back and stumbled a little against something…or someone. Immediately, she felt a pair of warm hands against her skin.

“Hello,” came a smooth-as-silk male voice. “Do you always walk around backward?”

Her heart in her throat, Savannah quickly turned and saw a well-built man of about forty smiling at her, his face so close she could smell his aftershave lotion. “Sorry,” she murmured, wriggling from his grip.

“Perfectly okay,” he said, continuing to smile at her. He scowled toward the dark-skinned island man who had startled Savannah. “Go on now,” he said to the man, motioning with one hand. “Go.”

The native continued to focus angrily on Savannah. He glanced at the other man, then pointed a finger at her menacingly. What happened next was like a kick in the stomach for Savannah. He narrowed his eyes and snarled, “I’ll kill you,” before throwing a small canvas bag over one shoulder and trotting away across the sand.

“My gosh, what did I do?” she muttered. Gulping in air, she explained, “I was just taking a picture of that flower. Did he say he’d kill me?” she asked, her voice cracking.

“Don’t let that worry you, pretty lady,” the man said, still smiling. “Are you traveling alone?”

She gestured across the patio toward her table. “No, I’m with…Michael…my husband,” she stammered, “and a bunch of other people.”

He ran his eyes over her one more time and sighed, “Too bad.” He then told her, “Just stay close to your people.” He glanced behind her. “So that’s your husband over there, right—and your friends?”

Savannah nodded.

“Stay close to them. Do not go on the beach at night. You’ll be fine.” He motioned toward the camera in her hand. “Look at what’s around you before you start pointing that thing. Just like on the mainland, there are crazies living here and some of them do not like anyone taking their picture.”

“Well…thank you…” she stuttered.

“Um…Mikala,” he said, bowing slightly and reaching for her hand.

“Thank you, Mikala,” she said, slipping her hand into his.

“And you’re? he asked.

“Savannah.”

“Ahhh, as in the great city in Georgia. Beautiful…as are you.”

Still rather stunned by what had just taken place and the gallant nature of this Hawaiian man, Savannah lowered her eyes, turned, and glanced at Michael and the others. “Well, thank you again. I need to get back to my family.”

Still holding tightly to her hand, Mikala said, “Savannah, stay close to your people.”

“Uh-huh,” she said, pulling free of his gentle grip and heading back to her place at the table.

“Who’s your friend?” Michael asked rather off-handedly when Savannah returned.

She glanced in Mikala’s direction and saw that he was gone. “Oh…a...he kind of rescued me. His name’s Mikala.”

“Better eat, Vannie,” Gladys suggested. “We leave for the beach walk in fifteen minutes. This is good—you must try the fish wrapped in banana leaves.”

“Yeah, sure,” she said, glancing out over the beach, hoping not to see the island man again, and wondering where Mikala had gone—as a matter of fact, where he came from in the first place and what he knows about the man who had threatened her. She replayed his words in her head: “
Don’t walk on the beach at night?” Now that’s something I was looking forward to—a walk on Waikiki Beach at night with Michael. Surely Mikala had exaggerated.

****

“Ready for an adventure?” Michael asked Savannah as they began to gather for their first photo workshop.

“Michael, I want to go up and change my clothes.”

“What? Why? Did you spill something on yourself?” he asked, looking at her colorful cotton dress.

“No, it’s just that…” before she could explain, tears filled her eyes.

“What’s wrong, hon?” he asked, leading her away from the group.

“I’m scared.”

“Of what, for Pete’s sake?” When he could see the fear in her face, he turned to the others. “Gladys, Savannah and I’ll catch up with you—why don’t you and Lily go on with the group.”

“Is everything okay?” she asked, glancing at Savannah.

“Yes. We just need to go upstairs for a minute,” Michael said. “We’ll be back shortly. You and Lily go have fun.” Once the couple reached their room, he asked, “Savannah what’s wrong? What happened this morning?”

She plopped down on the edge of their bed and tried to explain. “Michael, I was taking a picture of that flower, when a man jumped up from behind it and he…he threatened me.”

“Threatened you?” he asked, scowling. “In what way?”

Her voice was pinched as she spoke. “He said he was going to kill me.”

“What?” Michael ran his hand through his hair, then knelt next to her. “Who is this guy?” His voice took on a threatening tone when he asked, “Is he the one you were talking to at breakfast?”

She shook her head. “No. Mikala rescued me.”

“Rescued you?”

“Yes, he said not to pay the island man any mind, but he said…Michael…he said we should not walk at night on the beach.”

“Why?”

“He seemed to think it’s unsafe.” She grabbed his arm. “Michael, you should have seen that man’s face. He looked so hateful and he glared into my eyes, like…well, it was awful. I was terrified.”

Michael stood and paced for a moment, then stopped and sat next to Savannah, holding her. “We need to report this to hotel security and have that man arrested.”

“For what?”

“For threatening you, that’s what! I’m sure hotel management doesn’t want their guests scared away. Did you get a picture of him?”

“I don’t think so.”

He picked up the camera. “Let’s take a look, shall we?”

“Oh my gosh, Michael. That’s him. There he is. I did get his picture. I didn’t mean to—it’s blurry, because I was focusing on the flower. I didn’t even see him, until he started yelling at me.”

“Well, come on, wash your face, and let’s join the others. We’ll report him after the photo tour, okay?”

“Okay, but I want to change my clothes.”

“Why, for heaven’s sake?”

“Michael, do you see what I’m wearing? It’s like a huge red flag. This purple and yellow flower print dress will be easy to spot and remember. I want to change into something more subdued and maybe wear a hat.” She began to cry again. “I don’t want him to recognize me. I’ll feel so vulnerable out there on the beach.”

“Hey, we don’t have to go with the others today. Why don’t we do something else this morning?’

“No. I don’t want to miss out just because of that darned guy.” She stood and said, defiantly. “We’re going, dammit. He’s not going to ruin my trip.”

“That’s my girl,” Michael said. “Now go make yourself incognito and let’s get on with our vacation, shall we?”

Two hours later, the photographers trekked back to the hotel, chatting excitedly about their first group outing.

“Tomorrow morning, we’ll take the bus to the North Shore and photograph surfers riding the big waves,” Rebecca announced. “You can go on the group bus or meet us there by car or the island bus, if you want. This might be a good opportunity to see the rest of the island. You can hop on and off public transportation along the way. I recommend stopping at the Crouching Lion for coconut pie on the east side of Oahu.”

Before Rebecca could continue, a gentleman interrupted. “I heard it closed down.”

“Oh?” Rebecca said.

Others chimed in with comments of disappointment, including Gladys, who said, “Now that’s a shame. I was looking forward to a piece of that pie.”

“Well, there are many interesting restaurants and other places to visit throughout the island. So keep your eyes and your mind open,” Rebecca continued. “There will be a lot of photo ops, too. So be aware of your surroundings. You don’t want to miss a potentially good shot.”

“Or some good food,” Shelly added.

Once the group had scattered, Michael asked Savannah and Gladys, “What do you ladies want to do now?”

“We ought to get the baby in her bed where she can rest more comfortably,” Gladys suggested, looking at Lily, who was asleep in Michael’s arms.

“Yeah, maybe we should rent one of those all-wheel-drive strollers so we can push her on the sand,” he suggested. “I’m going to check into it.” He looked at Savannah. “For now, I’ll carry Lily up to the room and get her settled, then let’s go talk to security, shall we?”

“Security?” Gladys questioned.

“Yeah.” He glanced at Savannah again. “We’ll tell you about it later, Gladys.”

As the trio stepped into the lobby of their hotel from the beach side, they heard a voice. “Hello, pretty lady.”

They glanced up to see the man known as Mikala standing off to the side, grinning at Savannah. As he approached them, she said, “Hello. Um…Mikala, this is my husband, Michael.”

He nodded politely toward Michael. “Same as my name,” he said. When the couple looked puzzled, he explained, “Mikala is Michael in the Hawaiian language.”

“Oh,” Michael said, half-heartedly. “Interesting.”

“What is the little girl’s name?” Mikala asked, smiling.

“Lily,” Savannah said.

“Actually, Lillianna,” Gladys corrected.

“Oh, it is the same in my language,” Mikala said. “Still Lillianna. Is she an island girl?”

Savannah shook her head. “Is there a translation for Savannah?” she asked. “That’s my name.”

“Yes, I remember. It is Kawanaha.”

“Oooh, pretty,” she said. She practiced pronouncing it: “Kawanaha. Kawanaha.” She then turned to Mikala. “What’s Gladys in Hawaiian?”

“Kalakeke.”

“Kala…” Gladys started.

“You are Kalakeke,” Mikala said.

“I like it. Thank you.”

“Yes, thank you,” Michael said. “We’d better put the island girl to bed—she’s getting heavy. Maybe we’ll see you around.”

“No doubt you will,” Mikala said, winking at Savannah.

“I think he has a crush on you, hon,” Michael said in a hushed tone as they approached the elevator.

“Oh, Michael, they’re just friendly people.” She frowned. “…well, except for that awful man.”

He glanced behind them. “It’s just odd how he keeps showing up—at breakfast and now in the lobby…”

“I think I’ll nap with Lillianna,” Gladys said, interrupting their conversation.

“That’s fine, Mom, if you want to,” Savannah said.

Several minutes later, after getting Lily settled, Michael and Savannah walked down to the hotel administrative offices. “We’d like to speak with someone in security,” Michael said. “…or management…I’m not sure which.”

“What’s the issue, sir?” the young man at the desk asked.

Michael glanced at Savannah. “My wife was threatened this morning and…”

“Threatened?” the younger man asked, scowling. “I guess that would be security. I’ll check. Just give me a moment.” He then asked, “Are you guests of the hotel, sir?”

“Yes, Michael and Savannah Ivey.”

Within a few minutes, the Iveys were ushered into an office and introduced to a heavyset woman with sleek black hair pulled into a tight bun off-center on the back of her head. She wore a white plumeria flower on one side of the bun. “This is Ms. Chatham,” the man said. “She’s in charge of security here for our hotels.” He addressed the woman, “This is Mr. and Mrs. Ivey, guests in the hotel.” Glancing at Savannah, he added, “Mrs. Ivey received a threat.”

Without changing her demeanor or expression, Ms. Chatham said, “Thank you, Ronald.” Once he’d closed the door behind him, she motioned toward two chairs. “Please sit down, folks. Now what seems to be the problem?”

Michael was first to speak. “Someone threatened my wife this morning.”

Ms. Chatham peered at Savannah, who swallowed hard before explaining. “I was taking a picture of a flower, when a man popped up in front of me…”

“An islander?”

“Yes, I suppose—he looked like he belonged here—like a native. He was an older man, thin, wearing a faded Hawaiian-print shirt, board shorts, and carrying a small bag—canvas, I think. He was also wearing a straw hat.”

The security guard smiled and said in a rather patronizing manner, “You’ve just described a good portion of islanders and tourists.”

“Oh, yes, I guess I did. Sorry about that.”

“What exactly did he do or say?” the woman asked.

“He yelled at me for taking his picture.”

“Did you take his picture?”

“Yes, I guess I did, but I didn’t mean to. I was focusing on a flower. When he popped up, I guess I moved the camera and snapped the picture.” She located the picture on her camera screen and handed it over to the woman.

After studying it for some time, the woman shook her head. “Doesn’t look familiar to me. I haven’t seen him around here, nor have I had any complaints about anyone matching his description.” She leaned forward and folded her hands on the desk in front of her. “Now, you say he threatened you in some way?”

“Yes. He said he would…kill me.”

Ms. Chatham frowned and sat back in her chair. “Now that’s rather odd, don’t you think? Why would someone threaten to kill you for taking a picture?”

“I don’t know,” Savannah said. “I just thought…”

Michael leaned forward. “We thought that if there was someone running around bothering your guests, you would want to know about it. And we certainly want to find out if my wife could be in any danger.”

“Well, I doubt that, sir.” The woman seemed to be choosing her words carefully. “Every community has its faction of peculiar people—even bad people—but I certainly don’t know of any one individual or group who has been threatening or annoying tourists in this way. Why, we haven’t had a problem down here on Waikiki involving a tourist in about four years, and in that instance, we’re certain it was the tourist who got out of hand, not the islander.”

“What did he do,” Michael asked using a sarcastic tone, “try to take a picture of a flower?”

The woman sat silent for a moment. “No. No, Mr. Ivey, I’m sure it was something more serious than that. Our guests take photographs of our gardens and the orchids on display in the lobby all the time without any danger. I believe what happened to your wife was simply an isolated case. The poor man might have a record or maybe his religion prohibits being photographed.” She looked from one to the other of them. “I certainly wouldn’t let it spoil your visit here on the island, folks. Now, please go and have yourself a good time.” When Michael and Savannah remained seated, the woman said, “Do let us know if you have another encounter with this gentleman, will you? Otherwise, I don’t think you should give his comments another thought.” She reached into her desk and pulled out something. “How many are in your party?” she asked. “Just the two of you?”

“Um, my mother and our daughter,” Savannah said.

Ms. Chatham handed them four coupons. “Here, have dinner in the Bonsai Room on us. This will be good for any night you choose while you’re here in Honolulu.”

“Thank you,” Michael said, taking the vouchers and rising from his chair.

“But Michael,” Savannah said.

“Come on, hon,” he encouraged.

Once in the lobby, Savannah asked, “Do you believe a word she just said?”

He grimaced. “I’d like to.”

“Yeah, but it’s just hard for me to believe that she doesn’t know who that man is and that he hasn’t hassled guests before.”

“Okay, Savannah,” Michael said more sternly, “does this mean you’re going to live in fear the whole time we’re here?”

She stopped to think about his question. Then, shaking her head, she said, “No. No, Michael, I’m not. I guess if he’s a regular around here, he probably hasn’t actually hurt anyone or he wouldn’t be running around loose.”

“Right,” Michael said.

“And anyone who would overreact like he did in this situation is probably crazy and doesn’t know what he’s saying, anyway.”

Michael smiled and nodded. “Yes, now shall we get on with our vacation? Are you going to be okay?”

She took a deep breath. “Yes,” she said. “I think I’m okay. Just stay close to me, will you?”

“After seeing the way that Hawaiian Michael guy leered at you, you’d better believe I’ll stay close.”

****

“There he is, Michael,” Savannah hissed, that evening as they dined in the hotel.

“Who? Where?” he asked, turning to look in the direction she pointed.

“That island guy who scared me. He’s on the other side of that umbrella. See him? He’s wearing the same clothes, even.”

Michael narrowed his eyes. “What’s he doing?”

“I don’t know.” She ducked down a little and whispered, “Just don’t let him see me. He’s not coming this way, is he?”

Suddenly they heard someone speaking to them. “Everything okay, pretty lady?”

When Savannah turned to see Mikala standing next to their table, she said, “Yes. I mean, no. Mikala, that man is over there hiding behind that umbrella. Do you see him?”

“Yes, I see him,” Mikala said. He knelt between her and Michael and pointed. “Now let’s see what he’s up to, shall we?” When Savannah stiffened a little, he said, “Watch. I think you’ll find this fascinating.”

Savannah stared in the direction Mikala was pointing, but Michael was more interested in scrutinizing the handsome Hawaiian as the man moved closer to his wife.

After a few moments, Savannah said, “Well, I’ll be. It’s a game with him and his idiot friends, isn’t it? He did the same thing to that poor woman in red. Scared her to death, then disappeared with his waiting buddies and began laughing it up as if they’d pulled off a good joke.” She sat rigid. “Well, it’s no joke to me. He scared me.”

“But now you know he didn’t mean any harm. Can you see that he’s just one of our locals out to have fun at the expense of our guests? You aren’t in any danger—never were. I’m sorry you were frightened.” He stood and smiled down at her. “Now, will you relax and have a wonderful time here on our island home? There’s nothing more to fear than you would find in any other city.”

“I guess,” Savannah said. “Thank you.”

Mikala looked quickly at Michael, glanced across at Gladys, then back at Savannah. “Just use common sense, folks. Be aware of your surroundings.” He clapped his hands together, saying, “And have a great time, okay?”

“Okay,” Savannah said.

Gladys nodded.

Michael kept his eye on Mikala as he bowed and walked away. “Who do you think that guy is, anyway?” he asked Savannah. “Why does he keep showing up? And what’s with that girlie necklace?”

“I don’t know; maybe he’s my knight in…well, in island clothing. And Michael,” she scolded, “that’s not a girlie necklace he’s wearing. Hawaiian men wear tasteful jewelry from nature. Haven’t you noticed? In fact, we ought to dress you up in a puka shell necklace or maybe a shark’s tooth earring.”

When his mother-in-law laughed, Michael smirked playfully at her and warned, “Now don’t you start, Gladys.” He peered at both of them and said sternly, “I’m not wearing any jewelry.”

“I have to agree with Vannie,” Gladys said, “that necklace with the little shell in the center is quite attractive on Mikala.”

Michael rolled his eyes, then reached around and hugged Savannah to him. “So, are you all better now? It appears that you weren’t the only one to feel the brunt of that man’s fake wrath.” Michael started to take a sip of his exotic drink when something caught his eye. “Well, take a gander at that, will ya? It looks like your
knight
is taking advantage of another situation.”

“What do you mean?” Savannah asked, frowning in the direction Michael nodded.

“He’s over there consoling the woman that weird guy frightened a few minutes ago.”

Savannah grimaced. “Now that’s odd. What is this, a tag team? The old guy terrorizes women and the Hawaiian Michael rushes to their aid?”

“Well, it’s her problem now,” he said under his breath.

“What do you mean by that, Michael?”

He looked at Savannah. “I mean, it looks as if he’s moved on to greener pasture. I think he knows he’s not making it through this barbed-wire fence to get to you.”

Savannah grinned at her husband and shook her head. “Oh Michael, you do have an imagination.” She wrapped one arm around his neck and kissed him, then whispered in his ear, “I love you.”

He winked at her. “Okay, let’s enjoy this feast, shall we?” Addressing Gladys, he asked, “How’s your meal, Kalakeke?”

Gladys laughed. “Very good, thank you, and I think Lillianna’s enjoying her chicken and mango. She likes the music, too,” she said, gesturing toward the baby, who was moving to the Hawaiian beat.

Just then, Rebecca walked up to their table. “She’s a regular little island girl, isn’t she?”

“She sure is,” Savannah said. “Which reminds me, do you know where we might find a baby shop or department store where we can pick up a few outfits for her? Don’t want to spend our whole vacation doing laundry.”

“Sure, you’ll find some nice shops about two blocks that way,” she said, pointing. “Most stores stay open late. I’m sure you’ll enjoy walking along the beachfront during the early evening. There’s entertainment all up and down the avenue.”